I first saw Carly Meyers, the trombonist of Yojimbo, performing with the Mike Dillon Band at Tipitina’s late last year. Due to that commitment, this is their first engagement in New Orleans in a while, though the band has been together about four years.
Yojimbo takes their name from the classic Japanese film by iconic director Akira Kurosawa. The group was formed by Meyers, Adam Gertner (drums), and Doc Sharp (keys). Bassist Patrick McDevitt joined about a year ago. McDevitt and Gertner also play in the Mike Dillon Band.
Meyers is a dynamic front woman; a whirling dervish on stage who wields her trombone like a dance prop when she is not blowing long tones and fat solos. She plays through a variety of effects including a wah wah pedal.
Though her sound might remind listeners of Mark Mullins of Bonerama, she says she was actually inspired by the wild saxophonics of Skerik, the frequent Galactic and Stanton Moore collaborator.
The group, which is musically influenced by a wide range of acts from punk to funk, plays all originals with two telling exceptions. They play the movie themes Yojimbo and Rosemary’s Baby.
Meyers and Gertner come up with most of the song ideas, but the other musicians add flesh to the musical bones and create their own parts.
You can listen to some of the band’s music here.
